Reducing signature matching uncertainty in media monitoring systems

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising:

• comparing first initial groups of monitored signatures from a sequence of monitored signatures representative of media presented by a media device with second initial groups of reference signatures from respective sequences of reference signatures representative of corresponding different reference media to determine a first initial sequence of signature match results for an observation period, the first initial groups and the second initial groups to have a first size corresponding to a first number of signatures;
• comparing, in parallel with comparing the first initial groups of monitored signatures with the second initial groups of reference signatures, third initial groups of monitored signatures from the sequence of monitored signatures with fourth initial groups of reference signatures from the respective sequences of reference signatures to determine a second initial sequence of signature match results for the observation period, the third initial groups and the fourth initial groups to have a second size corresponding to a second number of signatures greater than the first number of signatures;
• in response to detecting an initial discontinuity in the first initial sequence of signature match results, outputting the second initial sequence of signature match results;
• and
• in response to detecting an absence of the initial discontinuity in the first initial sequence of signature match results, outputting the first initial sequence of signature match results.

A method comprising:

• comparing first initial groups of monitored signatures from a sequence of monitored signatures representative of media presented by a media device with second initial groups of reference signatures from respective sequences of reference signatures representative of corresponding different reference media to determine a first initial sequence of signature match results for an observation period, the first initial groups and the second initial groups to have a first size corresponding to a first number of signatures;
• comparing in parallel with comparing the first initial groups of monitored signatures with the second initial groups of reference signatures, third initial groups of monitored signatures from the sequence of monitored signatures with fourth initial groups of reference signatures from the respective sequences of reference signatures to determine a second initial sequence of signature match results for the observation period, the third initial groups and the fourth initial groups to have a second size corresponding to a second number of signatures greater than the first number of signatures;
• in response to detecting an initial discontinuity in the first initial sequence of signature match results, outputting the second initial sequence of signature match results;
• and
• in response to detecting an absence of the initial discontinuity in the first initial sequence of signature match results, outputting the first initial sequence of signature match results.